Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-30
KLEPTOMANIA.
Strange Doings of Child in this City
Adroit Thefts by Kleptomaniac.

Adroit Thefts by h1eptomanfac.
Within the last year or two, at frequent
intervals, residences in the southern part
of the city have been entered by day, and
articles of iewelry and clothing stolen. For
long time no clue could be obtained to
the perpetrator of the thefts. AT last, and
by mere accident, it was ascertained that
they were committed by a 12-year-old
child, named Amy Cook, who resides with
her parents-who are estimable people-at
Seventh and 0 streets. One day, nearly
year ago, the residence of Judge Armstrong,
917 o street, was entered and pair OF
pearl opera glasses, some gloves and other
trinkets taken. Nothing vas heard OF the
property, though diigent search was made
for II, until O. few weeks since, when the
glasses were seen in the possession OF
little girl, who, upon being questioned,
stated that she had received them from
Amy Cook. Subsequently nearly all of the
property was recovered. Later another resi-
dence in the vicinity was entered, and some
jewelry taken. On being questioned the
girl admitted having taken the property,
and returned it to the owners. These
stories coming to the ears of her parents,
STRICT WATCH WAS KEPT
Over her but she would often escape from
her home, and remain away for days at
time, and nothing could be ascertained of
her Whereabouts until she would return
and tell her parents where she had been.
She would with uuselfsh Hberality, often
gale away what she had taken, to her little
friends. In this manner a valuable gold
watch was recovered and returned
through the agency of the police
to the owne:. For long time
her parents confined her closely in her
room, in hopes of curing her of her uL-
fortunate mania, but if she was left I'M
guarded for a moment she would desert
her home. At one time she was absent for
two days, sleeping at nights in a stable.
After this her parents, for whom the neigh
bors manifest unbounded sympathy, con-
fined her in room with bonds she could
not break. Yesterday she was relieved of
them in order to allow her to have bath
and change of clothing. A moment after
being released her mother was called down
stairs. This opportunity to escape was
Immediately awaited of by the girl, and
quickly leaving the house, she went to the
residence of Judge Beatty, at Seventh and
NJ Streets and gave it thorough ransack-
ing. She examined every nook and corner
on the upper floor, and turned the contents
of the bureau drawers upon the carpets,
taking only what suited her fancy. Hay
ing completed her search, she gathered up
BUNDLE OF GOODS
And left the house. taking with her a kew
TO an outside door. An examination of
the premises revealed that she had taken
81 so, some lace handkerchiefs. large
silk handkerchief, pair of lady's new kid
shoes and pair of kid gloves, the property
OF the nurse girl. She also took some of the
clothes and dresses of the daughter of
Judge Beatty, together with several other
small articles. A jewelry box containing
several pair of valuable gold sleeve buttons
was emptied of its contents, but they were
left. AS she was leaving the house she was
met by Judge Beatty's little daughter, with
whom she stopped and talked. having the
stolen articles then in Der hand. This did not
arouse Alma Beatty's suspicion that any
thing was wrong, because a short time pre-
viously Amy had come to Judge Beatty's
house and represented that her mother was
a widow, with seven small children de-
pendent upon her tor their support. She
begged of Mrs. Beatty some old clothes of
which she said her brothers and sisters
we're much in iced. One of the peculiar
tiles of her exploits while at Judge Beatty's
was, that having found dress too small
for her, she procured pair of scissors and
attempted to cut off the trimmings but left
the task unfinished. Another evidence of
cunning is the fact that the child locked
the rooms she ransacked, thus preventing
access to them while she was there. Since
leaving the house
NOTHING HAS BEEN SEEN OF HER
The police were informed of her disap-
pearance by her father and are instructed
to return her to her home.
Opinions differ as to the motive of
the child. Some think she is actu-
ated by a vicious, thieving disposition,
but the most of those acquainted with
the facts believe her to be a klepto-
maniac, one in whom the propensity
to steal is irresistible. Usually in
this mania which is recognized in the law,
the unfortunate person does not seek to
or gives it away. 1t is not known that
Amy sells that which she steals,
but she frequently gives it away.
The kleptomaniac is usually as cunning as
the genuine thief, but not always as expert.
Often these unfortunates act so foolishly as to
positively prove their unfortunate insanity.
A professional thief would hardly have
entered Judge Beatty's house in broad day
with the servants about the premises, AS she
did, or have stopped and talked with Alma
Beatty as she did, and have offered no ex-
PLANTATION of her presence where she had
no right to be. Her tender. years, prepos-
sessing manner in other respects, the char
acter of her surroundings, the absence of
necessity or want the frequency of her
thetts and her apparent insensibility to the
enormity of her crime, and the fact-be-
Geved-that she does not sell her plumber,
justify the charitable conclusion that the
girl is kleptomaniac and SO her unfor-
tunate parents regard her. They also Justify
the suggestion that she should be properly
confined and treated for her mental disease.